QCWA 2008 INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION

Tour Info

NORFOLK INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT MEET AND GREET SERVICE.   

Personal Meet and Greet Service and airport transfers to and from the hotel can be arranged as an option for your convenience.  You must provide your arrival/departure information and we will stage a staff person on site to meet and direct you.  Your personalized information will be provided in advance of your arrival.  Cost for this service compares very favorably with individual transport via commercial carriers. 

By Special Arrangement.  Cost:  $22.00 One-Way, $44.00 Round-Trip, per person. 

Thursday, October 2, 2008, – B.O.D. Spouse Program (Open to all) 

VIRGINIA BEACH WELCOME TOUR 

VIRGINIA BEACH.  Board the coach with your guide to enjoy beautiful views of the Atlantic Ocean and the Chesapeake Bay as you ride through Virginia Beach. Learn about the rich history of the area and see the historic lighthouses and the First Landing Cross at Cape Henry where the English colonists first came ashore in 1607, prior to continuing on to Jamestown. Walk out on the overlook to see where the bay and the ocean meet, and where the famous Battle of the Capes took place during the Revolutionary War.   

NORFOLK BOTANICAL GARDEN -- Next, enjoy a visit to the Norfolk Botanical Garden, which dates back to 1938, is considered a premiere example of horticultural excellence. The Garden represents 155-acres of colorful landscapes, unusual flowers, mature forests and seasonal plantings and features one of the largest collections of azaleas, camellias, roses and rhododendrons on the East Coast. Enjoy a relaxing trackless train ride, and spend time browsing in the Garden Gift Shop which specializes in unique home and garden items and hard to find gardening books.  Enjoy lunch on your own in the café on site.    

ROWENA'S.  Following lunch, visit Rowena’s, one of the country’s leading mail-order companies for fresh baked pound cakes and unique jams, jellies and sauces. Now located in Norfolk’s historic Ghent section, the business began modestly in Rowena’s family kitchen with gourmet holiday gifts for friends and neighbors. In May 1983, Rowena opened her gourmet manufacturing facility with one full time employee and a strong determination to succeed. In the twenty-two years since, Rowena’s has grown to 20 full time employees and up to 100 part time workers during the holiday season. Her facility now includes a retail store, tearoom, staff offices, two spacious kitchens and two warehouses. A number of national publications have featured Rowena’s including Bon Appetit, Gourmet, Ladies Home Journal, Taste of Home, Redbook and Southern Living. Rowena has appeared nationally on PBS, the 700 Club and the Food Network. During your visit, you will be treated to a tour of the production facility – have a chance to see the warehouse as well as the retail shop. Enjoy tasting the delicious samples following your tour.    

10:00 AM - 2:00 PM Thursday, Oct. 2^nd.  All Admissions and fees are included.  Minimum registrations:  15   Cost:   $50.00 per person. 

Friday, October 3 

NORFOLK CITY TOUR  

Board the motor coach with your guide to learn about Norfolk’s colorful 325 year history as you ride through the lovely historic district and restored areas. View the lovely homes along the Hague, the Chrysler Museum of Art, the MacArthur Memorial, the Moses Myers House, the Battleship Wisconsin, the restored waterfront area and many other points of interest. Drive by old St. Paul’s Church.  Built in 1739, it is the only link between modern Norfolk and the city’s colonial origins. St. Paul’s is the lone survivor of the 1776 bombardment of Norfolk by the British, with a cannonball fired New Year’s Day 1776 that remains embedded in the outside wall of the church. 

NAUTICUS, THE NATIONAL MARITIME CENTER.  Visit Norfolk's exciting downtown waterfront where you will tour Nauticus, The National Maritime Center. Features here include a series of ingenious interactive exhibits, shows and theaters. Also housed here is the Hampton Roads Naval Museum, one of ten museums officially operated by the U.S. Navy. Highlights of naval battles and exhibits of detailed ship models, artwork and memorabilia are showcased in the museum. 

BATTLESHIP WISCONSIN -- BB-64.  A true highlight to your visit to Nauticus will be a tour of the battleship Wisconsin, one of the famous Iowa-class ships. This great ship saw action in WWII, the Korean War and most recently in the Persian Gulf War. Wisconsin is permanently berthed beside Nauticus where it is accessed by a connecting walkway. The main deck and sections of two upper decks are open for you to explore.   

HARBOR CRUISE.  Board the Victory Rover for a two hour cruise through the bustling Hampton Roads Harbor, one of the largest in the world. Enjoy fascinating and entertaining commentary along the way aboard this naval themed vessel. You will thrill to the sight of aircraft carriers, nuclear submarines, guided missile cruisers and all of the other ships that form the world's most powerful armada.  A lunch will be provided on board the Victory Rover.  Following your cruise, guests may choose to return to Nauticus and the Battleship Wisconsin, or visit the following attractions. Your coach will shuttle between all of the attractions. Guests may choose to visit whichever they wish. (Nauticus/Wisconsin admission tickets will be valid for the entire day).   

MACARTHUR MEMORIAL.  Visit the MacArthur Memorial for a glimpse into our country’s history. During your visit you will view the outstanding collection of artifacts, documents, photographs and memorabilia housed in Norfolk's historic city hall which trace the life and times of five-star General Douglas MacArthur. You will also have the opportunity to view the 25 minute film which chronicles General MacArthur’s life. The General and Mrs. MacArthur are entombed in the rotunda of the memorial. Nine separate galleries arranged in two levels circle the rotunda and tell the story of General MacArthur and the millions of American men and women who served in the United States Armed Forces from the Civil War through the Korean War. A gift shop with unique memorabilia is located on the premises.   

MACARTHUR CENTER.  Enjoy a stop at the beautiful MacArthur Center located in the heart of downtown Norfolk.  Anchored by Nordstrom and Dillard’s, and offering over 150 specialty shops, boutiques and restaurants, this beautiful new complex is considered one of the most outstanding in the Mid-Atlantic region.   

DOUMARS.  Before returning to the hotel, all guests will visit Doumar’s - home of the world’s first ice cream cone machine.  Abe Doumar created the first ice cream cone at the World’s Fair of 1904 in St. Louis. It was so successful that he designed a four-iron waffle machine that he launched during the Jamestown Exposition of 1907. Today, the family business still bakes cones on the original cone machine. While at Doumar’s, Mr. Doumar will give you an introduction and all passengers will be treated to an ice cream cone before boarding the bus.  

9:00 AM - 4:00 PM Friday Oct. 3^rd.   ALL ADMISSIONS, TICKETS AND FEES INCLUDED.  LUNCH INCLUDED.   Minimum registrations:  35      $70.00 per person. 

Saturday,  4 October 2008   9:00 AM – 4:00 PM 

                 MARINER'S MUSEUM/VIRGINIA AIR AND SPACE CENTER TOUR

Visit the Mariner’s Museum, one of the largest and most comprehensive maritime history museums in the world, housing a treasure trove of more than 35,000 items inspired by human experiences with the sea. For 70 years the museum has illustrated the spirit of seafaring adventure, assembling an internationally renowned and diverse collection of maritime artifacts - including figureheads, scrimshaw, handcrafted ship models, decorative arts, prints and paintings with a nautical theme, and small craft from around the world. Browse in the Museum Shop, which features an extensive collection of maritime books and gifts that are sure to please nautical enthusiasts of all ages and interests.  The fascinating USS Monitor Exhibit opened in 2007. This $30 million exhibit includes artifacts, history and accounts of the career of the USS Monitor displayed in a 63,500 square foot space. The center's galleries are re-creations of times and places - turning points of experience, re-living the Civil War battle of the iron-clad, USS Monitor and the CSS Virginia, which was to change Naval warfare forever. This exhibit is world class and one of the country's premier Civil War attractions. LUNCH ON YOUR OWN AT THE MARINER'S MUSEUM CAFE.

                                         VIRGINIA AIR AND SPACE CENTER

Following lunch, tour the Virginia Air and Space Center, the official visitor center for NASA Langley Research Center which is located in charming downtown Hampton, the birthplace of America’s space program. The Center features dozens of interactive exhibits, suspended aircraft, the space gallery, a premiere interactive aviation gallery that spans 100 years of flight and historical displays of Hampton Roads.  Enjoy an exciting movie in the 300 seat IMAX Theater and shop for unique gifts in the Museum Shop.

$70.00 pp   Minimum 20 – Maximum 24   Tour price includes all admissions and the IMAX theatre movie.  Gratuities are included, except for the customary tip to the bus driver.


Sunday, 5 October 2008   9 AM – 3 PM

COLONIAL WILLIAMSBURG/YORKTOWN BATTLEFIELD TOUR

Questions:  Preferred via E-mail – vic.w4vic@verizon.net   or via Phone:  757-495-2679

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